JP4245143B2 - Heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device, and printing and thermal activation method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing printing and thermal activation on a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having one surface made of a printable layer and the other surface made of a heat-sensitive adhesive layer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, affixed labels used for barcodes, price displays, etc. have a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the back side of the recording surface (printable layer), and a state in which a release paper (separator) is pasted and temporarily adhered. Many types were stored in However, this type of sticking label has a problem in that waste is always generated because it is necessary to peel the release paper from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer when used as a label.
[0003]
Therefore, as a method that does not require a release paper, it usually exhibits non-adhesiveness on the back side of the sheet-like base material, but has a heat-sensitive adhesive label having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer that expresses adhesiveness when heated, and A heat activation device has been developed for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the back side of the heat-sensitive adhesive label to develop the adhesiveness.
[0004]
For example, as the heat activation device, devices employing various heating methods such as a heating roll method, a hot air blowing method, an infrared radiation method, a method using an electric heater or a dielectric coil have been proposed. Further, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a thermal sensitive adhesive label having a head having a plurality of resistors (heating elements) provided on a ceramic substrate as a heat source, such as a thermal head used as a print head of a thermal printer. A technique is disclosed in which the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is heated by being brought into contact with the substrate.
[0005]
Here, a general configuration of a conventional heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printer will be described with reference to the thermal printer of FIG.
[0006]
The thermal printer of FIG. 15 has a roll storage unit 20 that holds a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 wound in a roll shape, a printing unit 30 that prints on the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, and a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 that has a predetermined length. And a heat activation unit 50 as a heat activation device for thermally activating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the cut sheet-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60. Printing and heat activation device.
[0007]
The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 has, for example, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer in which a heat-sensitive layer and a heat-sensitive color-developing layer (printable layer) are formed on the front side of a sheet base material, and a heat-sensitive adhesive is applied and dried on the back side. It has a formed structure.
[0008]
The printing unit 30 includes a printing thermal head 32 having a plurality of heating elements 31 composed of a plurality of relatively small resistors arranged in the width direction so that dot printing is possible, and the printing thermal head 32. The printing platen roller 33 is brought into pressure contact with the heating element 31. In FIG. 15, the printing platen roller 33 rotates clockwise, and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is conveyed from the left to the right in the drawing.
[0009]
The cutter unit 40 is for cutting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 printed by the printing unit 30 with an appropriate length. The cutter unit 40 is operated by a drive source (not shown) such as an electric motor. And a fixed blade 42 facing the movable blade 41 and the like.
[0010]
The thermal activation unit 50 includes a thermal activation thermal head 52 as a heating unit having a heating element 51, a thermal activation platen roller 53 as a conveyance unit for conveying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, and the printing unit 30 side. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of a label is supplied from a thermal activation thermal head 52 (heat generating element 51) and a drawing roller 54 that pulls between the thermal activation platen roller 53. In FIG. 15, the thermal activation platen roller 53 rotates in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) to the printing platen roller 33 so as to convey the label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in a predetermined direction (rightward). It has become.
[0011]
In addition, if the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is irregularly loosened during conveyance, wrinkles or poor conveyance is likely to occur. Therefore, the conveyance speed (printing speed) and thermal activation by the printing platen roller 33 are likely to occur. In general, the conveyance speed (activation speed) by the platen roller 53 is the same.
[0012]
According to the thermal printer having such a configuration, after the adhesive force of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is developed, the label labeling work on cardboard, food wrap, glass bottles, plastic containers, etc., or price tags and advertising labels Since the pasting operation can be performed, there is an advantage that the release paper used for the conventional general sticking label becomes unnecessary and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, since release paper which becomes waste after use is not required, it is desirable from the viewpoint of resource saving and environmental problems.
[0013]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-79152 ([0024] to [0025], FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above-described conventional configuration, the printing unit 30, the cutter unit 40, and the heat activation unit 50 are provided side by side, and furthermore, a power source for driving them is necessary. And has the disadvantage of being heavy. In addition, it is necessary to provide a transport means for transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 while smoothly passing between these units 30, 40, 50. The transport means transports the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 and the units 30, 40. , 50 in synchronization with each other, and the printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 are continuously and efficiently performed, the structure of the entire apparatus and its control become complicated. Further, since an expensive thermal head is required for each of the printing unit 30 and the thermal activation unit 50, the cost of the entire apparatus is expensive.
[0015]
In addition, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is thermally activated by being brought into contact with the surface of the thermal activation thermal head 52 of the thermal activation unit 50 and heated, and thus has adhesiveness. Due to this adhesiveness, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer may adhere to the thermal activation thermal head 52 and slightly peel off, and may remain on the surface of the thermal activation thermal head 52 as an adhesive residue. Then, since there is a foreign substance called an adhesive residue between the thermal activation thermal head 52 and the thermal activation platen roller 53, the reliability of the subsequent travel of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is reduced, and smooth conveyance is possible. There is a possibility that it cannot be maintained. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to perform cleaning periodically.
[0016]
The general heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is poor in the persistence of adhesiveness generated by heat activation, and the strong adhesive force can be maintained only for about 1 minute. Therefore, when printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 are continuously performed using the above-described conventional configuration, the function as an adhesive sheet is required unless pasting is completed within a short time. Will be lost. Therefore, it is not possible to perform so-called collective pasting in which a large number of adhesive labels are manufactured in advance and then pasted together. The pressure-sensitive adhesive labels must be produced one by one or in small quantities and applied sequentially, which limits the method of use as a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet.
[0017]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device that is smaller and lighter than conventional ones and has a simple structure, and that the adhesive residue is automatically cleaned and heat-sensitive. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing and thermal activation device and a printing and thermal activation method for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that do not impair the runnability of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet and that can be attached together.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device of the present invention is capable of printing on the printable layer in contact with the printable layer forming one surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet. It has a thermal head which can contact the heat sensitive adhesive layer which makes the other side of this, and can also heat-activate this heat sensitive adhesive layer. According to this configuration, the printing unit and the thermal activation unit do not need to be provided separately, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and weight, and the cost can be reduced because the number of expensive thermal heads can be reduced. it can. Furthermore, as the number of constituent units decreases, the configuration of the transporting unit can be simplified, and control for synchronizing the operation of each constituent unit and the transporting unit can be simplified.
[0019]
The thermal head may be configured to switch between the printing operation and the thermal activation operation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet when a switching signal is supplied. In that case, the switching signal is based on at least one of the control data input in advance, the operation of the switch mechanism provided in the path of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, and the detection result of the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet. It may be generated and supplied to the thermal head. Further, the switch mechanism may include a mechanical or optical sheet detection sensor provided in at least one of the two insertion portions for guiding the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet to a position facing the thermal head.
[0020]
It is preferable to have a reversing mechanism that is provided in the vicinity of the thermal head, reverses the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printed and carried out by the thermal head, and leads it again to the position facing the thermal head. This reversing mechanism has a reversing roller and a roller for conveying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that is positioned between the thermal head and the reversing roller and can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet carried out by normal rotation may be reversed at the front and back by conveying at least a half circumference around the outer periphery of the reversing roller, and further guided to the thermal head again by reversing the conveying roller. And it is arranged so as to face the thermal head, and can be rotated forward so as to convey the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet sandwiched between the thermal head from the thermal head side to the reversing mechanism side, and the reversing mechanism side And a platen roller that can be reversely rotated so as to be conveyed to the thermal head side. According to such a configuration, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet can be automatically reversed, and printing and thermal activation can be performed automatically and continuously.
[0021]
Also, the supply means for supplying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper printed by the thermal head can be wound up so that the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet are reversed. The take-up means that can be set again and the thermal head are arranged so as to face the thermal head, and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet sandwiched between the thermal heads is conveyed from the supply means side to the take-up means side. The platen roller may be configured to be capable of rotating in the forward direction and reversely rotated so as to be conveyed from the winding means side to the supply means side. In this case, printing is performed on all the heat-sensitive adhesive sheets in advance, and the thermal activation may be performed at an appropriate timing for each label, or by printing (cutting) one label at a time. The degree of freedom of the method for producing the pressure-sensitive adhesive label can be increased, such as by performing thermal activation one by one, and the use according to the user's application becomes possible.
[0022]
The method for printing and thermally activating the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet of the present invention comprises a step of contacting a printable layer forming one surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet with a thermal head and printing on the printable layer; And a step of bringing the thermosensitive adhesive layer forming the other surface of the adhesive sheet into contact with a thermal head and thermally activating the thermosensitive adhesive layer.
[0023]
Between the printing step and the thermal activation step, the method may further include a step of reversing the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printed and carried out by the thermal head and guiding it again to the facing position of the thermal head. In that case, the process of turning the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet upside down and guiding it again to the opposite position of the thermal head is performed by transferring the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printed by the thermal head and carried out by normal rotation of the conveying roller to the outer periphery of the reversing roller. It may be a step of reversing the front and back by conveying at least half a circle and then guiding it again to the thermal head by reversing the conveying roller.
[0024]
Prior to the printing step, the step of supplying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper, and after winding the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper printed by the thermal head by the winding means, Prior to the step of resetting the winding means so that the front and back are reversed and the heat activation step, the already-printed heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is supplied again to the thermal head from the rewinding means. A process.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the most basic configuration of the printing and thermal activation device of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 according to the present invention. Although the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is not particularly limited, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a heat-insulating layer 60b and a heat-sensitive color developing layer (printable layer) 60c are formed on the front surface side of the sheet substrate 60a, and a heat-sensitive surface is formed on the back surface side. The heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d is formed by applying and drying the adhesive. The heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d is made of a heat-sensitive adhesive mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin or a solid plastic resin. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 may not have the heat insulating layer 60b, or may have a protective layer or a colored printing layer (a layer printed in advance) on the surface of the printable layer 60c. .
[0027]
The printing and thermal activation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a thermal head 102 having a plurality of heating elements 101 composed of a plurality of relatively small resistors, arranged in the width direction so that dot printing is possible, The platen roller 103 is pressed against the thermal head 102. The heating element 101 has substantially the same configuration as a print head of a known thermal printer in which a protective film made of crystallized glass is provided on the surface of a plurality of heating resistors formed by thin film technology on a ceramic substrate. Therefore, detailed explanation is omitted.
[0028]
Further, the printing and thermal activation device includes a drive system (not shown) composed of, for example, an electric motor and a gear train that rotationally drives the platen roller 103, and the platen roller 103 can be rotated by this drive system. . Accordingly, when the platen roller 103 rotates while the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is sandwiched between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, one surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is heated by the thermal head 102. It is sent out in a predetermined direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the platen roller 103 rotates clockwise and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is conveyed to the upper side of the drawing. In addition, the printing and thermal activation device includes a pressing unit (not shown) made of, for example, a coil spring or a leaf spring, and the platen roller 103 is pressed toward the thermal head 102 by the pressure of the pressing unit. At this time, since the rotation axis of the platen roller 103 and the arrangement direction of the heating elements 101 are kept in parallel, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 can be uniformly pressed over the entire width direction.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, in the printing and thermal activation apparatus configured as described above, the printable layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is selected by appropriately selecting the surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 that contacts the thermal printer 102. Printing on 60c and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d can be performed arbitrarily. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is inserted so that the printable layer 60c is in contact with the thermal head 102, printing is possible by the action of the heating element 101 of the thermal head 102. Printing is performed on the layer (thermosensitive coloring layer) 60c. Since the thermal head 102 has substantially the same configuration as a print head of a general thermal printer, it can print arbitrary characters, symbols, patterns, images, and the like with high quality. In the present specification, the term “printing” includes not only characters but also recording of symbols, patterns, images, and the like. At this time, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d is not thermally activated.
[0030]
1B, when the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is inserted so that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d contacts the thermal head 102, the heat-sensitive adhesive is caused by the action of the heating element 101 of the thermal head 102. The agent layer 60d is thermally activated to cause stickiness. In general, a larger amount of heat energy is required for thermally activating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d than for printing on the printable layer (thermosensitive coloring layer) 60c. The thermal energy of the head 102 is about 0.2 mJ, and the thermal energy of the thermal head 102 at the time of thermal activation is about 0.35 mJ. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the traveling direction of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 may be upward or downward in the drawing. Further, the traveling direction at the time of printing and at the time of thermal activation may be separated vertically.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows a printing and thermal activation device for the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 of the present invention, which is an extension of the configuration shown in FIG. This printing and thermal activation device has a guide frame 110, a pair of sensors 111 and 112, and a cutter unit 40 in addition to the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103 similar to those shown in FIG. is doing. The printing insertion portion 121 and the thermal activation insertion portion 122 schematically shown in FIG. 3 at an angle (about 90 degrees in the present embodiment) intersecting each other with the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103 as the center. Are provided, and sensors 111 and 112 for detecting the presence or absence of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 are disposed in the insertion portions 121 and 122, respectively. In the present embodiment, a guide frame 110 that guides the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is disposed on the printing insertion portion 121 side, and at least the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is interposed between the guide frame 110 and the thermal head 102. A gap (discharge portion) 123 that can be inserted is provided. Further, on the heat activation insertion portion 122 side, a movable blade 41 that can be cut by the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 and that is actuated by a drive source (not shown) such as an electric motor, and a fixed that faces the movable blade 41. A cutter unit 40 including a blade 42 is disposed. The cutter unit 40 has the same configuration as the conventional example.
[0032]
A method of performing printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 by the printing and thermal activation device shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of continuous paper is inserted from the printing insertion portion 121 such that the printable layer 60c (see FIG. 2) is positioned on the thermal head 102 side. (Step S1). When the presence of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is detected by the sensor 111 (step S2) and a print signal is further supplied from the control means (step S3), the platen roller 103 rotates clockwise (step S4). The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 proceeds upward in FIG. 3 while being sandwiched between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103. At that time, the heating element 101 of the thermal head 102 generates heat in an appropriate pattern, and recording of characters, symbols, and the like according to the print signal is performed on the printable layer 60c of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (step S5). . When the printing of the desired pressure-sensitive adhesive label is completed and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is sent out, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is placed at an appropriate position (printed portion) on the outside of the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103. Are cut by the cutter unit 40 in the vicinity of the boundary between the unprinted portion and the portion not printed (step S6).
[0034]
The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 that has been printed and cut into the size of one adhesive label is turned upside down on the outside of the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, and as shown in FIG. It inserts again from the insertion part 122 for conversion (step S7). When the sensor 112 detects the presence of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (step S8) and further supplies a heat activation signal (switching signal) from the control means (step S9), the platen roller 103 rotates counterclockwise. (Step S 10), the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 proceeds downward in FIG. 3 while being sandwiched between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103. At this time, since the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is reversed, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d is located on the thermal head 102 side. The heating element of the thermal head 102 generates heat entirely with larger thermal energy than that during printing, and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is heated entirely to be thermally activated and have adhesiveness. Express (step S11). Then, the label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 printed and thermally activated is discharged downward from the gap (discharge portion) 123 between the thermal head 102 and the guide frame 110 (step S12). . On the other hand, the remaining cut heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of continuous paper is in a state where the leading end is sandwiched between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, but the platen roller 103 rotates counterclockwise. By doing so, it is retracted toward the printing insertion portion 121. Accordingly, when one printed heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of a label is discharged below the drawing, the remaining heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 can perform the next printing and heat activation operation. As shown in FIG. When the same printing and heat activation operation as described above is performed again, the next adhesive label is manufactured.
[0035]
Examples in which such a configuration is further embodied are shown in FIGS. In addition, about the structure substantially the same as the above-mentioned structure, the same code | symbol is provided and description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0036]
The printing and thermal activation apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 includes a thermal head 102, a platen roller 103, a guide frame 110, and sensors 111 and 112 having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. Another sensor 113 is provided in the discharge portion 123, and roll storage is a means for holding and supplying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 wound in a roll shape and provided outside the print insertion portion 121. It has the unit 20 and the inversion mechanism 130 provided in the outer side of the thermal activation insertion part 122.
[0037]
Here, the reversing mechanism 130 of this embodiment will be described. The reversing mechanism 130 is close to the heat activation insertion portion 122 and has a pair of conveyance rollers (drawing / sweeping rollers) 131 that can rotate in both directions so as to be conveyed with the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 interposed therebetween. The reversing roller 132 and a plurality of driven rollers 133 disposed so as to contact the outer periphery of the reversing roller 132. Although the name of the driven roller is used here, actually, it may be operated on the reversing roller 132 side or the driven roller 133 side that operates mainly.
To facilitate the running of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, the contact portion between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, the gap between the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 42 of the cutter unit 40, and a pair of conveying rollers The contact portion 131 and the center of the reversing roller 132 are arranged approximately in a straight line. Further, a portion of the reversing roller 132 that faces the pair of conveying rollers 131 is not provided with the driven roller 133 because the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is wound around or fed out of the reversing roller 132. A guide member (not shown) may be provided.
[0038]
A method for performing printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 using this printing and thermal activation device will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0039]
First, the roll-shaped heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 held in the roll storage unit 20 is unwound and the printable layer 60c (see FIG. 2) is positioned on the thermal head 102 side so that the print insertion portion 121 is printed. (Step S21). When the sensor 111 detects the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (step S22) and a print signal is supplied (step S23), the platen roller 103 starts rotating clockwise (step S24) and the thermal head 102 prints. Operation starts according to the command of the signal. The thermal energy of the thermal head 102 at this time is about 0.2 mJ. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 runs while being curled along the guide frame 110 while being sandwiched between the platen roller 103 and the thermal head 102, and at the same time, predetermined printing is performed on the printable layer 60c (step S25). When the tip passes through the cutter unit 40 and the sensor 112 detects the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (step S26), the transport roller 131 starts to rotate (step S27). Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the reversing roller 132 starts to rotate in the clockwise direction (step S28), and the driven roller 133 starts to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. In this way, the tip of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is guided to the reversing mechanism 130 while printing.
[0040]
When printing of one desired adhesive label is completed and the appropriate cutting position of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (near the boundary between the printed portion and the non-printed portion) reaches the cutter unit 40 (Step S29), the conveying roller 131 and the reverse roller 132 (and the driven roller 133) are temporarily stopped (Step S30), and the travel of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is temporarily interrupted. Therefore, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is cut by the cutter unit 40 (step S31). When the cutting is completed, as shown in FIG. 5, the conveying roller 131 and the reversing roller 132 (and the driven roller 133) rotate again (step S32), and the running of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is resumed. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is wound around the reversing roller 132 at the tip of the conveying roller 131 and is rotated clockwise by the reversing roller 132 and the driven roller 133.
[0041]
When the rear end of the printed and cut label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 passes through the sensor 112, the sensor 112 detects that there is no heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (step S33). Then, the platen roller 103 stops (step S34), and the conveying roller 131 starts to rotate in the reverse direction after a predetermined time has elapsed (after passing the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60) (step S35). Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, which is turned upside down by rotating the outer periphery of the reversing roller 132 by less than one turn, is guided between a pair of conveying rollers 131 by a guide member (not shown). Then, it is conveyed again to the thermal head 102 side (right direction in the drawing) by the reverse rotation of the conveying roller 131 (step S36). When the sensor 112 detects the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (step S37), this becomes a switching signal, and the platen roller 103 starts to rotate counterclockwise (step S38). The counter-clockwise rotation of the platen roller 103 causes the remaining heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of continuous paper cut by the cutter unit 40 to be retracted along the guide frame 110 toward the printing insertion portion 121 side. . At this time, the retracted heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 may be loosened in the vicinity of the print insertion portion 121 without being rewound to the roll storage unit 20, and in the vicinity of the print insertion portion 121, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 may be formed. It is held by the tension of the sheet 60 itself. As a result, it is not necessary to insert the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 again when the next printing process is subsequently performed after the thermal activation of one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is completed. , Cutting, and heat activation, that is, continuous production of a large number of adhesive labels can be easily performed.
[0042]
After a predetermined time has elapsed since the platen roller 103 started to rotate counterclockwise, that is, as described above, the remaining heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of continuous paper was retracted, and the tip thereof was separated from the thermal head 102. Later, the thermal head 102 starts operating. The thermal energy of the thermal head 102 at this time is about 0.35 mJ, which is larger than that during printing. As shown in FIG. 7, one sheet of heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of a label passes between the non-operating cutter unit 40 and is sandwiched between the platen roller 103 and the thermal head 102 rotating counterclockwise. The heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d (see FIG. 2) that comes into contact with the thermal head 102 because it is run and reversed by the reversing mechanism 130 is thermally activated (step S39). After that, one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is not activated along the guide frame 110 but is thermally activated while proceeding in the straight direction toward the gap (discharge portion) 123 between the thermal head 102 and the guide frame 110. Continue to be. When the sensor 112 detects that the rear end of one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 has passed (step S40), the rotation of the reversing roller 132 (and the driven roller 133) and the conveying roller 131 is stopped. (Step S41). When the thermal activation of one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is completed and the rear end of one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is separated from between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, The operations of the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103 are stopped. Then, one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 that has been subjected to necessary predetermined printing and thermal activation can be taken out from the gap (discharge section) 123 between the thermal head 102 and the guide frame 110 (step S42). . When one sheet-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is taken out and the sensor 113 disposed in the discharge unit 123 detects that the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is not present, as shown in FIG. The printing process of the adhesive sheet 60 can be started. When the next printing signal is input, printing and thermal activation processing can be performed subsequently without the insertion step S21.
[0043]
The size of the reversing roller 132, the interval between the rollers 103, 131, 132, the position of the cutter unit 40, etc. are the length of one label to be manufactured from the heat sensitive adhesive sheet 60 and the heat sensitive adhesive sheet. It is set appropriately according to the conveyance speed of 60 or the like. Further, the reversing mechanism 130 is not limited to this method, and can be realized by another method, and is not particularly limited to this method.
[0044]
Next, another embodiment of the printing and thermal activation device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, substantially the same configurations as those described above are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0045]
The printing and thermal activation apparatus shown in FIG. 11 has a roll storage unit 20 similar to that described above, a thermal head 102 and a platen roller 103, and a cutter unit 40, and further conveys the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60. A pair of conveying rollers 141 and a pair of support rollers 142 positioned in front of and behind the cutter unit 40 along the direction, a winding roller 143 that is a winding means for the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, and a guide unit 70 Have. The transport roller 141 and the support roller 142 can rotate forward and backward as appropriate.
[0046]
The guide unit 70 has a plate-like guide (first guide) 71 provided between the cutter unit 40 and the conveying roller 141, and is bent at a substantially right angle on the upper side provided opposite to both ends thereof. The guides 72 and 73 are configured. The space between the second guides 72 and 73 is open, and the storage sheet portion is capable of temporarily relaxing the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 by a predetermined amount. The second guides 72 and 73 may be constituted by a single member having a concave portion on the upper side as a storage sheet portion, or the first guide 71 and the second guides 72 and 73 are turned upside down. May be provided. In this case, the storage sheet portion is formed on the lower side with respect to the conveyance direction. As will be described later, the looseness of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 at the time of thermal activation is guided to the guide unit 70 by controlling the rotational speeds of the platen roller 103 and the conveying roller 141, the winding roller 143 and the supporting roller 142. Is generated.
[0047]
FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of the printing and thermal activation apparatus shown in FIG. The control unit of this apparatus includes a CPU 150 as a control device that controls the control unit, a ROM 151 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 150, a RAM 152 that stores various print formats, print data, print format data, and the like. An operation unit 153 for inputting, setting or calling, a display unit 154 for displaying print data and the like, an interface (I / F) 155 for inputting / outputting data between the control unit and the drive unit, and the thermal head 102 A thermal head driving unit 156 for driving the sheet, a cutter driving unit 158 for driving the movable blade 41 of the cutter unit 40 for cutting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60, a platen roller 103, a conveying roller 141, and a winding roller 143. , Four steps for driving the support roller 142 independently. It is composed of a Ngumota 160a~160d or the like.
[0048]
Based on the control signal transmitted from the CPU 150, the thermal head 102 performs desired printing or thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d, and the cutter unit 40 performs a cutting operation at a predetermined timing. Further, the CPU 150 can transmit control signals to the first to fourth stepping motors 160a to 160d independently of each other. Thereby, the rotation speed of the rollers 103, 141, 142, and 143 driven by the stepping motors 160a to 160d, that is, the conveyance speed of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 can be controlled independently. However, the control unit of the printing and thermal activation device of the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, a configuration having two or three stepping motors may be used. In that case, the platen roller 103 and the conveying roller 141 are driven by one stepping motor, or the winding roller 143 and the support are supported. It can be considered that the roller 142 is driven by a single stepping motor, or that the take-up roller 143 has a drive source and does not rotate by itself.
[0049]
A method for performing printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 using this printing and thermal activation device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0050]
First, the roll-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 of the roll storage unit 20 is unwound and inserted into the printing insertion portion 121 so that the printable layer 60c (see FIG. 2) is positioned on the thermal head 102 side. (Step S51). When the print signal is supplied (step S52), the platen roller 103 starts rotating in the clockwise direction, and the thermal head 102 starts operating according to the print signal command. The thermal energy of the thermal head 102 at this time is about 0.2 mJ. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is provided between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, between the pair of conveying rollers 141, between the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 42 of the cutter unit 40 that is not operating, and a support roller. The leading end is fixed to the take-up roller 143 through the space 142, and the platen roller 103, the transport roller 141, the support roller 142, and the take-up roller 143 rotate at substantially the same rotational speed (step S53). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is wound around the winding roller 143 while predetermined printing is performed on the printable layer 60c by the thermal head 102 (step S54). .
[0051]
When all of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 has been printed and taken up by the take-up roller 143, the take-up roller 143 is moved to another set position below the drawing shown in FIG. 11B (step S55). ). This set position is symmetrical with respect to the set position at the time of printing shown in FIG. 11A through the conveyance path of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the vertical direction of FIG. The front and back of the adhesive sheet 60 are opposite. Therefore, the support roller 142 rotates in the reverse direction (step S56), and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 enters the cutter unit 40. When the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 having a length corresponding to one desired adhesive label passes through the cutter unit 40 and an appropriate cutting position reaches the cutter unit 40 (step S57), the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the cutter unit 40. Is temporarily interrupted (step S58), and the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is cut by the cutter unit 40 (step S59). The cut label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is conveyed by rotating the pair of conveying rollers 141 and the platen roller 103 in the reverse direction while contacting the thermal head 102 (step S60). In step S58, only the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 inside the cutter unit 40 has stopped running. On the thermal head 102 side, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is rotated by the reverse rotation of the conveying roller 141 and the platen roller 102. Keeps running continuously. Therefore, as described later, the rotation speeds of the support roller 142, the conveying roller 141, and the platen roller 102 are made different.
[0052]
As described above, since the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 are opposite, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 abuts against the thermal head 102 while the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is running, and the thermal head 102 is about 0.35 mJ. The thermal energy is applied to activate the heat (step S61). Then, one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 on which necessary predetermined printing and thermal activation have been performed is discharged away from the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103 (step S62).
[0053]
In this embodiment, in this way, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is cut for each length of a desired pressure-sensitive adhesive label and then thermally activated. The adhesive sheet 60 is sandwiched and held by a pair of support rollers 142 in front of the cutter unit 40 (on the left side of the drawing) so that it does not fall off from the cutter unit 40. Therefore, each time the cutting and thermal activation of one label-like heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 are completed, the subsequent heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 can be sequentially inserted into the cutter unit 40, and cutting and heat activation are continuously performed. It can be done.
[0054]
In this embodiment, at the time of printing shown in FIG. 11A, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is conveyed and wound while being printed with the printable layer 60c positioned on the thermal head 102 side. At the time of thermal activation shown in (b), the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is conveyed and sent back while being thermally activated in a state where the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d is located on the thermal head 102 side.
[0055]
By the way, when the cutting operation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 by the cutter unit 40 is performed (step S59), only the time required for the movable blade 41 to move up and down (for example, 0.4 seconds) is used. It is necessary to stop the conveyance (step S58). Unless the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is stopped at least in the vicinity of the movable blade 41, accurate and smooth cutting by the cutter unit 40 is not performed.
[0056]
If the entire heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is stopped and cut, the part of the preceding heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is stopped while being sandwiched between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103. Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d that expresses adhesiveness sticks to the thermal head 102 (heat generating element 101), and even if the conveyance is resumed, it is not smoothly conveyed, so-called paper jam occurs, or conveyance failure This causes the problem of generating Further, the heat from the heating element 101 may be transmitted to the printable layer 60c of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 to cause color development. In such a case, even if the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is discharged, it cannot be used because of its poor appearance. In addition, when strongly bonded, the entire apparatus may be temporarily stopped to require maintenance.
[0057]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by shifting the rotational speeds of the support roller 142 and the conveying roller 141, the traveling of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is stopped in the cutter unit 40 in the cutting step S59, and the position facing the thermal head 102 is reached. Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is slackened between the cutter unit 40 and the conveying roller 141 so that the travel of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 does not stop. This will be described below.
[0058]
In this embodiment, when the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 after winding is sent back to the thermal head 102 side, the conveying speed of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 due to the rotation of the platen roller 103 and the conveying roller 141 is the take-up roller 143. In addition, it is set so as to be slower than the conveying speed of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 due to the rotation of the support roller 142.
[0059]
That is, from the point in time when the leading end of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 fed out from the take-up roller 143 reaches between the pair of conveying rollers 141, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 has a lower speed on the leading end side than the conveying roller 141. Thus, the vehicle travels at a higher speed on the rear side than the support roller 142. Due to the difference in speed, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 has an excess length between the support roller 142 and the conveying roller 141, and is guided to the guide unit 70 to be slacked upward. When the predetermined cutting position reaches the cutter unit 40 in such a slack state, the winding roller 143 and the support roller 142 are temporarily stopped, for example, and the travel of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is temporarily interrupted in the cutter unit 40 ( In step S28), the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is cut by the cutter unit 40 (step S59). At this time, the rotation of the platen roller 103 and the conveying roller 141 does not stop, and the leading end side of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 continues to travel, but the traveling operation causes the slack between the support roller 142 and the conveying roller 141. It acts so as to eliminate, and no extra tension is applied to the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the cutter unit 40. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thermal head can be smoothly cut accurately by the cutter unit 40 without stopping the travel of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 102 in the portion in contact with the thermal head 102. The heat-sensitive adhesive layer 60d of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 does not adhere to 102 (the heat generating element 101), thereby causing no paper jam or poor conveyance.
[0060]
In addition, when the cutting by the cutter unit 40 is completed, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 cut into the preceding label shape is thermally activated, and at least after being pulled out from between the conveyance rollers 141, the remaining continuous cut. The rotation of the take-up roller 143 and the support roller 142 is set to resume at an appropriate timing so that the leading end of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 in the form of paper enters between the conveying rollers 141.
[0061]
The amount of slack is determined by the desired length of the adhesive label and the dimensions of each part of the apparatus. The difference between the rotational speed of the platen roller 103 and the transport roller 141 and the rotational speed of the take-up roller 143 and the support roller 142 is It is calculated and set so as to obtain an appropriate amount of slack. As an example, the conveyance speed of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 due to the rotation of the platen roller 103 and the conveyance roller 141 is about 150 mm / second, which is the same as the conveyance speed at the time of printing shown in FIG. The conveyance speed of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 by the rotation of 142 is set to about 100 mm / second. This is also suitable for obtaining thermal energy necessary for the thermal head 102 during printing and thermal activation.
[0062]
Although not shown, various sensors may be provided in the vicinity of the support roller 142, the cutter unit 40, and the conveyance roller 141 in order to determine the start and stop timings of the rollers 103, 141, 142, and 143. Good. In that case, these sensors are connected to the CPU 150 and the like via the interface 155.
[0063]
The thermal head 102 used in each of the above-described embodiments is usually structured such that the heating element 101 is positioned at the edge of the substrate so that it can be easily manufactured, and is disposed slightly inclined. Accordingly, in the configuration in which the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 may come into contact with the thermal head 102 from both directions, for example, when printing, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is from the right to the left as shown in FIG. When inserted, since the substrate surface of the thermal head 102 functions as a sheet insertion guide, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is smoothly inserted by being sandwiched by the rotation of the platen roller 103. However, when the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is inserted in the reverse direction (from the left to the right in the drawing) as shown in FIG. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is not easily sandwiched by the rotation of the platen roller 103 in the direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14C, the insertion property of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 can be improved by attaching the insertion guide 104 to the end of the thermal head 102 on the side of the heating element 101, and the running property of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is improved. Can be improved. For the insertion guide 104, a method is conceivable in which another member that is continuous with the heating element surface of the thermal head 102 and opens in the insertion direction of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is attached to the end of the thermal head 102. Further, the design of the thermal head 102 is devised so that the heat generating element 101 is disposed at a position deeper from the end of the thermal head 102 to form a wide area that functions as an insertion guide at the end of the substrate. Alternatively, the thermal head 102 having a configuration formed automatically may be used.
[0064]
In each of the above-described embodiments, when the thermal head 102 performs the printing operation and when the thermal activation operation is performed, the thermal energy of the thermal head 102 is different, and further, the rotation direction and rotation speed of each roller may be different. . Switching between the printing operation and the thermal activation operation is performed according to a switching signal. The switching signal is generated at an appropriate timing based on, for example, control data (such as a mode selection signal and an output form selection signal) input in advance from the keyboard of the operation unit 153 shown in FIG. It is generated by manually operating the changeover switch provided at 153, or generated according to the operation of the switch mechanism including various sensors 111, 112, 113, etc. provided in the path of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60. Or the detection result of the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60. In addition, the detection of the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 is performed on the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet 60 (that is, the printable layer 60c and the heat-sensitive adhesive) by an optical sensor that may be included in the sensors 111, 112, 113, and the like. This can be done by detecting the difference in color (of the layer 60d), the difference in reflectance, the presence or absence of an identification mark (black mark), the position, shape or pattern of the identification mark.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to separately provide the printing unit and the heat activation unit as in the prior art, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and weight. Further, since the number of expensive thermal heads can be reduced, the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, as the number of constituent units decreases, the configuration of the transporting unit can be simplified, and control for synchronizing the operation of each constituent unit and the transporting unit can be simplified.
[0066]
According to the present invention, since the thermal head is in contact with the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, heat conduction is directly performed, and heat activation can be performed efficiently. In addition, since the thermal head can generate heat only during energization to perform thermal activation, energy consumption for thermal activation is reduced.
[0067]
In addition, if printing and thermal activation of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by the thermal head are performed alternately, the adhesive residue adhering to the surface of the thermal head at the time of thermal activation is wiped off by the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet at the time of printing. Since it is automatically cleaned, maintenance can be simplified.
[0068]
Alternatively, if only printing is performed on all the heat-sensitive adhesive sheets, and then thermal activation is performed, a large amount of adhesive labels can be printed in advance and then collectively pasted, so-called collective pasting can be performed. it can. At this time, the step of cutting into a small label may be performed immediately after printing or immediately before thermal activation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and heat activation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an example of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and heat activation device according to the present invention.
4 is a flowchart showing a method of printing and heat activation of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by the printing and heat activation device shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a printing process of the third embodiment of the printing and thermal activation device of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet according to the present invention.
6 is a schematic view showing a reversal process of the printing and thermal activation device shown in FIG.
7 is a schematic view showing a heat activation process of the printing and heat activation apparatus shown in FIG.
8 is a schematic view showing a standby state after completion of printing and thermal activation of the printing and thermal activation device shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method for printing and thermal activation of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by the printing and thermal activation device shown in FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method for printing and heat activation of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by the printing and heat activation device shown in FIGS.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a printing process of the fourth embodiment of the printing and thermal activation device of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet according to the present invention.
12 is a control block diagram of the printing and thermal activation device shown in FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a flowchart showing a method of printing and heat activation of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by the printing and heat activation device shown in FIG.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of a thermal head of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a conventional heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 roll storage unit (supply means)
40 Cutter unit
41 Movable blade
42 Fixed blade
60 Heat-sensitive adhesive sheet
60a Sheet base material
60b Thermal insulation layer
60c Printable layer
60d heat-sensitive adhesive layer
70 Guide unit
71 First Guide
72, 73 Second guide
101 Heating element
102 Thermal head
103 Platen roller
104 Insertion guide
110 Guide frame
111, 112, 113 sensors
121 Print insert
122 Thermal activation insert
123 Discharge section
130 Inversion mechanism
131 Conveyor roller
132 Reverse roller
133 Followed roller
141 Conveyor roller
142 Support roller
143 Winding roller (winding means)
150 CPU
151 ROM
152 RAM
153 Operation unit
154 Display
155 interface (I / F)
156 Thermal head drive
158 Cutter drive unit
160a to 160d first to fourth stepping motors

Claims (5)

It is possible to print on the printable layer in contact with the printable layer forming one surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, and contact the heat-sensitive adhesive layer forming the other surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet. A thermal head capable of thermally activating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer ;
Supply means for supplying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper;
Winding means capable of winding the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper printed by the thermal head, and capable of being set again so that the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet are reversed;
It is arranged so as to face the thermal head, and can be rotated forward so as to convey the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet sandwiched between the thermal head from the supply means side to the winding means side, And a platen roller that is reversely rotatable so as to be conveyed from the winding means side to the supply means side;
A heat-sensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device.   2. The thermal sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device according to claim 1, wherein the thermal head switches a printing operation and a thermal activation operation of the thermal sensitive adhesive sheet when a switching signal is supplied.   The switching signal is based on at least one of control data input in advance, an operation of a switch mechanism provided in a path of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, and a detection result of the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and thermal activation device according to claim 2, which is generated and supplied to the thermal head. Said switch mechanism, the provided on at least one of the two insertion portions for the thermal head to the opposite position directing the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, comprising a sheet detecting sensor for mechanical or optical, to claim 3 The heat-sensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet printing and heat activation apparatus according to the description. A step of printing on the printable layer by bringing a printable layer forming one surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet into contact with a thermal head; and
A step of bringing the heat-sensitive adhesive layer forming the other surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet into contact with the thermal head and thermally activating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer ;
Supplying the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper prior to the printing step;
A step of resetting the winding means so that the front and back of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet are reversed after the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the form of continuous paper printed by the thermal head is wound by the winding means; ,
Prior to the thermal activation step, from the rewinding winding means, the step of supplying the already printed thermosensitive adhesive sheet to the thermal head again;
A method for printing and thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet.

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